During a single testing session, torso-weighting produced significant improvements in postural stability and fall reduction during the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) for multiple sclerosis (MS), but no change in healthy controls (HC), a recent study found. As part of a more extensive single-session clinical study, 60 people with MS and 10 bin-matched HCs completed the SOT with no weights (NW), and again while weighted (WT), using the Balance-Based Torso-Weighting assessment method. SOT composite scores, equilibrium scores, and number of falls occurring across the 6 SOT conditions were compared between and within groups. Researchers found:

• A statistically significant increase in composite score of 9.14 points NW to WT occurred in MS but not HC groups.
• Equilibrium scores were significantly higher with WT in MS but not HC.
• Falls during the SOT were reduced by 35% with WT in the MS group compared to NW, with the greatest number of falls occurring in SOT conditions 5 and 6.